NFHS Makes Donation on Behalf of Heart of the Arts Award Recipient

Shown above (left to right) are social worker hematology Kristen Weber, Ethan Gray, pediatric hematologist/oncologist Dr. Marie-Ellen T. Sarvida, and Fran Majca, pediatric hematology/oncology nurse - Sickle Cell Program Director, Advocate Children's Hospital - Oak Lawn, Illinois.

This year’s National High School Heart of the Arts Award recipient, Ethan Gray, is not your average high school student. His involvement at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, Illinois, is quite impressive. Gray is a member of the marching band, jazz band and theatre club, and has also been a part of the yearbook club, Spanish club, paintball club and the bowling team.

However, what makes Ethan Gray truly special is that on top of his busy schedule, he lives with sickle cell thalassemia, a genetic disease that requires undergoing a monthly blood transfusion to treat. Gray has a surgically implanted port catheter in his chest that is used to perform each transfusion.

Despite his difficult condition, Gray certainly does not let it deter him. In addition to his involvement in the performing arts, he is a determined servant of the community, often volunteering his time to build homes for the underprivileged or play music for sick children.

For this reason, the NFHS was proud to make a donation to the Keyser Clinic in Illinois on behalf of Ethan Gray. The donation will go towards helping kids like Ethan fight sickle cell disease.

Although he is a self-taught musician on 11 different instruments, the versatile Gray plans to focus his future on comic book illustration. Regardless of his career path, Gray will surely continue to inspire and move people through his courage and perseverance.

Gray will be recognized with the National Heart of the Arts Award June 29 at the 96th NFHS Summer Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.